Our Best Festival yet
Written: 28 June 2018
It's taken me longer than usual to write this news. Not because anything bad happened, quite the opposite. The Festival was such a joyful success that it's taken a couple of weeks to get over it. I think I only felt human on Tuesday this week.
How can I sum up what happened?
OK... let's start with some numbers...thousand of you visited, just over 10,000, our biggest crowd of craft loving people ever. Thank you, a very humble thank you.
You threw pots, bought lots and lots (no lack of consumer confidence at Craft Festival), watched films, ate award winning food, made friends with inspirational people, practised yoga, carved spoons, made jewellery, challenged our Throwdowners, danced and danced, created magical worlds, designed stickers for your skateboards, listened to music, bought some more craft, talked and talked, bashed metal, made so many great things, shared and created everlasting memories. It was powerful. Seriously powerful.
We have a simple mission: To make craft important. Not in a showy offy, aren't-we-clever sort of way. But to make it part of your everyday life, whether you make for fun or for a living, whether you buy it or admire it for it's skill and beauty. I know it soundsa bit IKEAish, but we want it to be your Every Day.
Never in my wildest dreams, 15 years ago, when we started the Festival, would I have imagined how digitised our lives would become and how our virtual lives would dominate our reality. But I also think that's one of the reasons why the Festival has endured. We don't spurn technology, not a bit of it, we've embraced social media and represent the latest digital making techniques but I believe it's the In Real Life opportunity to meet and buy from the living and breathing makers is our most powerful asset. Without The Makers, we are nothing.
We must single out our award winners.
WBW Solicitors Best Maker in the South West, weaver Teresa Dunne (Teresa wins a free stand at the Festival next year), Devon Contract Waste Best Stand, furniture makers Rodney Lomas (Rodney wins a free stand at the Festival next year), madebyhandonline.com Best New Business, jeweller Lucy Spink (Lucy wins a shop and mentoring with madebyhandonline.com), Christian Dodd Best Ceramics, potter Sabine Nemet (Sabine wins a year accountancy services and mentoring from Andy Christian), The Byre Showcase, glass artist AAH Designs (Alice wins a showcase at The Byre Gallery in Millbrook) and The Tony Piper Memorial Award for Craft Excellence, sculptor Anthony Theakston (Anthony wins a showcase at The Devon Guild of Craftsmen)
The Festival is powered by a passionate army of volunteers: They are the engine and without them, well, it couldn't happen. There is also a smiling crew behind them that keeps everyone safe. Thank you. There is also a vast team of teachers that run the host of workshops for all ages. Whether you booked a 2 hour session, watched and chatted to our demonstrators, visited The Den, Out of the Woods or The Children's Craft Tent, these powerhouses of making are the cornerstones of delivering our mission. Deepest of Bows. Our performers, whether they sang, told tall tales stories, raised a smile, a belly laugh or drew a silent tear...we LOVED you. Our great sponsors who help us put the icing on the cake and to the amazing food stands who sustained us over the weekend. Epic Efforts!
We also want to reassure you that, with the help of the pioneering Devon Contract Waste, all waste and I mean ALL waste from the Festival was recycled! They have a Zero to Landfill policy and we were so pleased to work with them this year. Next phase is to further reduce waste overall.
We'd love to have your feedback and you can send if HERE.
From me and all of us at The Craft Festival, thank you and see you in Cardiff on November 2-4th at www.madebyhand-wales.co.uk
Best wishes,
Sarah, Nina, Kate and Fran
Applications for Craft Festival 2019 will open in September. If you'd like to receive reminders, please join our newsletter list on the home page.
Applications are now open for Made by Hand, Cheltenham 2019 CLICK HERE to apply.
Nourish Festival of Food, Craft & Music is on September 1st in Bovey Tracey. More details HERE.